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New Message from IRD scam

18 November 2024

Some details that show this is a scam.

  • Senders are not using Inland Revenue email addresses.
  • There's no greeting to the user or customer.
  • We are not called the Inland Revenue Agency.

Tax Policy Update scam

18 November 2024

Some details that show this is a scam.

  • Senders are not using Inland Revenue email addresses.
  • There are unusual subject lines.
  • The amount of the refund is mentioned in the body of the email. We do not do this.

Fake IRD number application websites

11 October 2024

We've seen an increase in websites doing fake Inland Revenue (IRD) Number applications.

These websites offer to help you get a IRD number for money. Instead of giving you an IRD number, these websites steal your payment and your personal information.

These scams often advertise on Google and social media platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.

We will never make you pay to apply for an IRD number. You can find out how to apply on our website.

IRD numbers

Remember to never give out your personal information unless you're sure of who you're dealing with. Run it past someone you trust to help you check, or if you are still unsure, please contact us/

Contact us

myIR letter email scams

12 April 2024

Some details that show these are scams.

  • Senders are not using Inland Revenue email addresses.
  • Links do not go to ‘ird.govt.nz’
  • When emailing about myIR we use ‘Do Not Reply’ in the subject line.

An email scam that is not from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue email.

An email scam that is not from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue email.

Cost of Living Payment email scam

19 January 2024

Details that show this is a scam.

  • This is not an IR email address.
  • We usually address you by name.
  • We do not provide links in our emails.
  • The link does not go to our website.
  • We do not ask you to process payments.
  • At the time of this scam, we are not issuing any more Cost of Living payments.

Cost-of-Living Payment

COVID-19 email scam

01 November 2023

Some details that show this is a scam.

  • This is not one of our emails.
  • When we email you, we will include your name or myIR username.
  • We do not include attachments in emails.

An email scam about COVID-19 that is not from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue email.

MyIR message email scam

17 October 2023

Details that show that this is a scam.

  • This is not an IR email address.
  • We don't provide links in or emails.
  • The links do not go to our website.
  • We do not include your email address in the footer of the email. We will call you by your name and your myIR username.
  • We don't ask you to unsubscribe if you have received an email in error.

An email scam from an address that is not an IR email address. The email has several links that do not go to our website and includes the recipient's (censored) email address.

Tax refund scam text

19 September 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This is not an IR phone number. We don't send messages from regular phone numbers like this one. Instead, you'll get a text message from a 4-digit code.
  • We always introduce ourselves in the body of our messages, usually with 'Hi IRD here'. We won't use '{IRD}'
  • This link does not go to our website.
text message reading '{IRD} You are due an additional refund, please confirm your details now to receive at: https://myird-refund.line.pm' The phone number, introduction and link text are highlighted as cues that the text is a scam.

Refund email scam

07 September 2023

Some details that show this is a scam.

  • We do not include forms in emails.
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.
  • Our emails do not include ‘Message IDs’.

An email scam that is not from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue email.

We'll post the latest scams here.

These examples may help you learn what an Inland Revenue scam looks like.

Tax refund scam text

13 July 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This did not come from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue phone number.
  • The link does not go to our website ird.govt.nz
  • The only place we will ever ask you to check a refund online is in myIR.

A text scam that is not from any of our numbers with a link that does not go to our website.

Tax refund scam text

23 June 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This did not come from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue phone number.
  • The link does not go to our website ird.govt.nz
  • The grammar is poor.

A poorly written text scam that is not from any of our numbers with a link that does not go to our website.

Tax refund scam text

6 June 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This does not show our website address - our website is ird.govt.nz
  • We do not send text messages from regular phone numbers like the one in this picture. Instead, you'll get a text message from a 4-digit code.
text message reading 'after further review you are due a tax refund. Please visit and enter your details to process your payments at https://ird-govt-tax.line.pm/ref/GovNZ

Tax refund scam email

29 May 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • There are a lot of typos and grammatical errors.
  • The website linked is not ours. We will only ever tell you to go ird.govt.nz

A scam email with spelling errors and a link to a South African website.

Tax refund scam text

29 May 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This did not come from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue phone number. We also do not contact you from Australia.
  • The link does not go to our website ird.govt.nz
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.

A scam text from an Australian +61 number that also shows the refund amount and goes to another website that is not ours.

Tax refund scam text

29 May 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • This did not come from a Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue phone number.
  • The link does not go to our website ird.govt.nz
A text scam not from any of our numbers with a link that does not go to our website.

Tax refund scam email

15 May 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • It is not sent from our email address.
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.
  • The email address linked is not ours. Do not click on the link.
An example of a scam email showing signs the email is a scam.  The email address is not an Inland revenue email, the refund amount is included in the email which we don't do and the email linked in the email is also not an Inland Revenue email.

Tax refund email scam

20 April 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • We do not do incoming tax refund payments.
  • We do not give direct hyperlinks to myIR in emails.

Screenshot of a scam email with a false hyperlink.

Tax refund email refund scam

14 April 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • We do not do incoming tax refund payments.
  • Our tax year is not from 12 March to 30 April.
  • We do not use the term 'PS'.
  • We do not ask you to verify your identity through your bank.
  • We do not give direct hyperlinks to myIR in emails.

Screenshot of an email sent by a scammer with a false hyperlink.

Tax refund text scam

12 April 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • There is a link supposedly to claim your refund.
  • We do not ask you to claim refunds.
  • Our links will always end in govt.nz

A screenshot of a text scam. The incorrect link has been outlined as proof.

Instagram account scam

24 March 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • We do not have an Instagram account.
  • Department is spelled wrong. 
  • We will never direct message (DM) you.

Instagram imposter account. This is a scam as we are not on Instagram. Screenshot shows the imposter page and the most recent posts as tiles.

Cost of Living Payment email scam

20 January 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • it is not sent from our email address.

You should not click on any links in this email.

Shows example of Cost of Living Payment scam email with false sender's address

Tax refund email scam

17 January 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • It is not sent from our email address.
  • The link does not go to our website. Do not click on the link.
Shows example of email with false email address and false hyperlink

Tax refund email scam

16 January 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • We do not give direct hyperlinks to myIR in emails. Instead, we’d ask you to log in to myIR through ird.govt.nz.
  • The link does not go to our website. Do not click on the link.
Shows example of email with false hyperlink

Tax refund email scam

16 January 2023

Details that show this is a scam:

  • It is not sent from our email address.
  • It does not have our logo.
  • It does not say the refund is from us.
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.
  • We do not say ‘NZD’.
  • The hyperlink does not go to our website. Do not click on the link.
  • The signoff at the end (‘The govt.nz Team’) is not us.
Shows example of email with false email address, false logo and false hyperlink.

Tax refund email scam

22 December 2022

Details that show this is a scam.

  • It's not from an Inland Revenue email address.
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.
  • We do not say 'NZD'.
  • The contact details are wrong.
  • There are grammar, spacing and punctuation mistakes.
  • There's a hyperlink to a form at 'form.jotform.com' - this is not our website, and we do not give you direct links within emails.
An email with highlighted content showing how it is a scam. This includes typos, and email address that is not from Inland Revenue, hyperlink that shows it does not take you to an Inland Revenue site when you hover on it.

Tax refund email scam

16 November 2022

Details that show this is a scam:

  • It's not from an Inland Revenue email address.
  • We do not put refund amounts in emails.
  • We do not say 'NZD'.
  • The contact details are wrong.
  • There are grammar, spacing and punctuation mistakes.
  • There's a hyperlink to a form at 'form.jotform.com' - this is not our website, and we do not give you direct links within emails. Instead, we'd ask you to log in to myIR through our website ird.govt.nz

 

Scammers cold-calling businesses to offer savings and discounts on tax bills

11 November 2022

We have seen an increase in scammers cold-calling business customers. The scammers pretend to be from real businesses and offer savings of up to 50% on tax bills (including small business loans). They may say they are offering discounts because they have vouchers which are about to expire.

The scammer pays the tax bill to us in full and the victim pays the discounted amount to the scammer.  Meanwhile, the scammer cancels the payment to us, leaving the victims out of pocket and with a tax bill to pay.

The scammers are using several names including Discount Club/Wel Network/Wel Network Marketing. We will never contact businesses to offer ‘discounts’ on your tax debt. If you cannot pay your tax debt, get in touch with us to talk about your options.

Tax return text scam

17 October 2022

Details that show this is a scam:

  • There's a link supposedly to confirm your return - we'd ask you to log in to myIR through ird.govt.nz
  • We do not call ourselves 'New Zealand Taxation Office'.
  • Our links will always end in govt.nz
  • We will never ask you to make a payment to confirm your card number.

 

Email phishing scam

14 October 2022

Details that show this is a scam:

  • It's not from an Inland Revenue email address.
  • There's a link supposedly to myIR - we do not give direct links in emails. Instead, we'd ask you to log in to myIR through ird.govt.nz
email from ird7@camenergy.org says income tax refund payment placed on hold pending account verification. Log in to myIR to resolve this issue.

Last updated: 18 Nov 2024
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